To The Land of Nevernight

Sun Shangde, the central figure in the Xingzhou case, had long since died in prison, but officials from the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment followed suit and uncovered this entangled network of relationships.

The Xingzhou case started when Sun Shangde and other small officials of the fifth and sixth grades were corrupt and ran short of the treasury.In fact, this may not be a special case. In the 36 prefectures of the Song Dynasty, there may be similar incidents in other prefectures, and most of them can be hidden without any mistakes.Corrupt officials are always caught, but 17 years ago, the heavy snowfall in the northwest turned the "small matter" of corruption and bribery by these criminal officials into a major event.

The officials of Dali Temple wrote the case into an excerpt and presented it to the saint.

Emperor Longyan was furious.

It involved a lot, and the official with the highest official rank was Yu Chaosheng.

Yu Chaosheng was proclaimed into the palace that night, and in the hall, the emperor threw the officials' impeachment papers on him.

Zhao Fu: "What else can you say!"

Yu Chaosheng's official robe was wrinkled by the memorial. With his head bowed and his waist bowed, he took out a fold from his sleeve and handed it to the emperor. "The guilty minister, Yu Chaosheng, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Ji Fu took Yu Chaosheng's notebook and handed it to the emperor.

The emperor opened the booklet and looked at it. Zhao Fu raised his lips and sneered.He raised his hand again, and he threw Yu Chaosheng's booklet on the opponent. Zhao Fu suppressed his voice, and said with a half-smile: "Look at you, it was premeditated! In the past 17 years, you really didn't care about what happened back then." Doubt? But if you, Yu Xianzhi, said something earlier, I would forgive you."

"Yu Xianzhi, Yu Xianzhi, do you think I'm stupid, or are you stupid?"

"Do you want me to think you are stupid or smart?"

Yu Chaosheng had been prepared for a long time, but facing the emperor's anger, he still couldn't stop his heart trembling: "I dare not."

Zhao Fu: "I am extremely disappointed in you!"

Yu Chaosheng's heart felt cold, he raised his head to look at the emperor, but the emperor never looked at him again.

In fact, when the Xingzhou case was first recommended by the censor, Xu Wei asked Yu Chaosheng if he was involved in it.What Yu Chaosheng said was "absolutely impossible".Indeed, he is not the party of Xingzhou criminal officials who are corrupt and accept bribes.

At that time, Yu Chaosheng had just won the second place in the list, and after serving as a Beijing official for a year, he was sent to Xingzhou as an official.He is a foreign official, how can he integrate into the group of these fifth and sixth grade officials so quickly, so he really did not participate in it.But in the few years after the snow disaster in Xingzhou, Yu Chaosheng traveled to many places, promoted step by step, and saw the officialdom step by step.

At this time, he looked back and realized what was the abnormality that he had noticed in Xingzhou back then. At that point, he had sniffed out the signs, but he didn't jump to conclusions because of his inexperience and inexperience.

He has never really been greedy for Mofu silver, but he is not really ignorant.

How could Zhao Fu not know.

The memorial written by Yu Chaosheng was Chen Ming's love letter, which had never been corrupted and had nothing to do with the Xingzhou case.But what Zhao Fu asked him was "Did you guess the truth a long time ago" and "You only said in the memorial that this matter has nothing to do with you, but you didn't mention that you already knew it but stayed out of it."

Yu Chaosheng is not stupid, so Zhao Fu understands that his subject already knew about it.

What Zhao Fu hates is that it has been 17 years. In that year, he went to the Temple of Heaven to pray for blessings in person, feeling terrified.But looking back now, this is not a natural disaster, let alone his lack of virtue in Zhao Fu, but a man-made disaster!

In the early morning of the next day, the emperor decreed that Yu Chaosheng, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, should be temporarily dismissed from his official position, and he would contemplate his mistakes behind closed doors at home.The rest of the criminal officials in the Xingzhou case were also punished.The few most involved have already been arrested by Dali Temple and put into the sky prison, and they may only be able to spend the rest of their lives in prison.

In the Zichen Palace, when Yu Chaosheng took off his official hat with his own hands, Xu Wei, the left minister, held the jade wat in his hand, looked down at the ground without squinting, and did not stand up to intercede for his student.

On the other side, the Right Prime Minister Wang Quan, the Shangshu Zuo Pushe Wang Qin and others also watched their noses and noses and their hearts calmly, as if they had never intervened in it.

Tang Shen stood at the forefront of the third-rank officials, followed by the second-rank officials. He watched Yu Chaosheng's back leaving the Zichen Palace, and he suddenly wondered whether Yu Chaosheng knew who harmed him.

It was Wang Quan, Wang Qin, and perhaps his mentor Xu Wei who also contributed to the flames and separated him.

But it was himself who really got him where he is now.

It is not easy to be an official in this world, it is not easy to be a treacherous minister, and it is even more difficult to be a good official.

Wang Qin never said it, but Tang Shen had already guessed why since two years ago, Wang Dang had set up such a big game to pick Yu Chaosheng, the pawn of Xu Dang.

Two years ago, Zhao Fu was seriously ill and couldn't sleep on the dragon couch. At that time, everyone thought he couldn't make it through.Even Zhou Taishi, who guarded the northwest, returned to Beijing after many years to visit the emperor's condition.But Zhao Fu survived that time, but since then Wang Qin has made up his mind to cut off Xu Dang's left and right arm.

Zhao Fu will eventually die, and this day may not be far away.

No matter who the three princes succeed to the throne, they will not have the courage of Zhao Fu to single-handedly eliminate the court's political views and promote Yin Yinsi.Back then, there was only Yin Yinsi, but now there are more cages.The former has already shown a threat to the aristocratic family, and the latter only needs a few years to show its power to change society.

What Yu Chaosheng wanted to do was a good official, what Wang Qin wanted to do was to be a treacherous minister.

Only by taking power and turning the whole court into one, can you do what you want to do and what you should do.

It is not easy to be a good official, nor is it easy to be a traitor!

As the Chinese New Year approaches, the Xingzhou case caused a lot of uproar in Shengjing, and everyone felt insecure.The good news of the great victory in the Northwest had been diluted a little bit, and with the heavy snow closing the city every day, it seemed that this huge city was extremely pale and desolate.

Tang Shen entered the palace by order, and when he left the palace, the eunuch Ji Fu escorted him out.

Tang Shen said: "Elder-in-law is in good health. If it's cold today, you should pay attention to your body."

Ji Fu apologized and said with a smile: "Master Tang is worried. The ointment that Master Tang sent last time is really a panacea."

Tang Shen smiled slightly.

Before Tang Shen sent new cloth woven by the loom into the palace, he heard about it the next day. As soon as he left the palace, the chief eunuch Ji Fu came out of the Chuigong Palace with a red and swollen face.This matter was very strange, Tang Shen didn't know why Ji Fu's face was suddenly swollen, but he was influenced by Wang Qin, without thinking, he sent Ji Fu the best golden sore medicine from Zhenbao Pavilion to the palace.

Because Ji Fu compared Tang Shen to an eunuch, he slapped himself ten times, and he was originally resentful towards Tang Shen.But after getting this good medicine for sores, his anger subsided a little, and he told Tang Shen what happened that day, consciously or not.

Tang Shen was also very surprised, he didn't expect that he had such a status in Zhao Fu's heart.

On that day, Tang Shen prepared a generous gift and sent it to Ji Fu's house outside the palace.

Ji Fu pretended to evade, but Tang Shen said seriously: "Eunuch was injured because of me, this is my apology. If Eunuch doesn't accept it, are you still angry with me?"

Ji Fu accepted it immediately.

Ji Fu said with emotion: "It's snowing so hard, Mr. Tang, be careful on the road."

Tang Shen: "Thank you, Eunuch."

Ji Fu said unintentionally: "Seeing this snow, the servants remembered that yesterday when the officials were reviewing the memorial, they mentioned that this year's snow was really heavy, but the north has long been used to heavy snow, and the people are more prepared. This snow If it is located in the southwest and in the Xingzhou area, there will be another disaster."

Tang Shen raised his eyes and looked at him.

Tang Shen: "It's indeed a troubled time now."

Ji Fu smiled and said, "It will always settle down. Master Tang, walk slowly."

On the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month in the 36th year of Kaiping, Yu Chaosheng, Minister of the Ministry of Punishments, was demoted to Changzhou and served as governor of Changzhou.

On that day, Yu Chaosheng left Beijing quietly in a plain carriage without telling anyone, but he had already packed his luggage and left without delay.

On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, the night before New Year's Eve, the emperor held a banquet in the Yanchun Pavilion and invited all his ministers to spend a good year together.

At the banquet, all the ministers were drinking and drinking, and the emperor was also beaming with joy.

Tang Shen is the right servant of the third-rank Ministry of Industry, and because he has the false title of second-rank official servant of You Sanqi, he sits in the seat of a second-rank official.He was talking in a low voice with Meng Lang, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, and from the corner of his eyes, he saw the three princes sitting in the upper seat.

Meng Lang followed his gaze: "I heard that the second prince was injured when he fought against the Liao people in Youzhou. It seems that the injured should be his arm." Meng Lang pointed to the left arm of the second prince Zhao Shang, and sure enough, he saw That arm remained stiff and never moved.

Tang Shen: "The three princes are all serving the country, and the heart of a child can be seen."

Hearing this, Meng Lang looked Tang Shen up and down, and muttered, "It looks more and more like Wang Zifeng!"

Tang Shen didn't hear his muttering clearly, his eyes lingered on the three princes for a long time.

When Song and Liao were at war, Zhao Fu sent all three of his sons to Youzhou.When the three of them arrived in Youzhou, they naturally tried their best to make some achievements.However, these three people had never led troops to fight, no matter how they claimed credit for the battle in front of Grand Master Zhou, Grand Master Zhou ignored the three of them.

The three princes were so anxious that they heated up the ants on the pan.

Finally, the second prince Zhao Shang found an opportunity and led his troops to battle.I don't know if it was an accident or on purpose, but he was injured after all, and now he returned to Beijing with the injury.

In the Yanchun Pavilion, the second prince froze his immobile left arm and looked eagerly in the direction of the emperor.It's a pity that Zhao Fu never looked at him.

The brilliance in Zhao Shang's eyes gradually dimmed.

36 states Yinqizhuang, Song Liao war, Jiaozhou agreement, Xingzhou case...

The 36th year of Kaiping ended in a heavy snowfall.

When all the officials left the palace from the Yanchun Pavilion, Tang Shen put on a fox fur cloak. When he walked out of Xuanwu Gate, he saw the carriage with the lamp of the left servant of Shangshu waiting outside the palace gate for a long time.The car window made of peach wood was slightly opened by the wooden stays to form a palm-sized gap, and sandalwood incense overflowed from it.

It is the smell that Wang Zifeng carries all year round.

Tang Shen boarded the carriage, and Wang Qin was holding a jade pendant, carefully looking at it in the dim candlelight of the carriage.

Tang Shen took a closer look: "Brother, why are you looking at this?"

Wang Qin gently put away the jade pendant. "This is a gift from my junior brother."

After Tang Shen sat firmly, the carriage quickly set off, heading for Shangshu's mansion.

The banquet in Yanchun Pavilion is a palace banquet for the emperor to entertain his ministers. The delicious wine and food eaten at the banquet are all made by the imperial chef, so they are naturally delicious in the world.But it was a palace banquet, how could any official have the heart to eat in front of the emperor.Tang Shen wasn't full, he searched Wang Qin's carriage very skillfully, and sure enough he found some snacks from Caiqizhai.

Tang Shen was eating a piece of pastry, when Wang Qin said lightly, "Brother Yelushe has ascended the throne."

"Cough, cough, cough..." Tang Shen almost choked to death on the pastry. He quickly drank a big mouthful of tea, and after recovering, he looked up at Wang Qin in disbelief: "Brother Yelushe has ascended the throne? Prince?"

Wang Qin looked at Tang Shen with a smile in his eyes, nodded and said, "Yes."

Tang Shen: "..."

Putting the pastry away with lingering fear, Tang Shen said silently: "Really, why is your tone as simple as saying 'Let's eat crab tonight'?"

The new emperor of the Liao Kingdom ascended the throne, what a big deal, the emperor in the Yanchun Pavilion didn't know about it just now, and now Wang Zifeng said it so lightly.

Wang Qin raised his eyebrows lightly: "The little junior thinks, what tone should I use to say this?"

Tang Shen thought for a while: "...You can just say that."

As a man, Wang Zifeng always felt that there was nothing that could shock him, so what if the Liao emperor ascended the throne, isn't he just ascending the throne...

Tang Shen always feels that after staying with Wang Zifeng for a long time, he seems to have become calm and his values ​​have changed greatly.

On the other hand, Zhao Fu also learned about the enthronement of the second prince of the Liao Kingdom after the banquet at the Yanchun Pavilion.

At that time, Zhao Fu was in the concubine's bedroom, preparing to go to bed.The scouts came to report, and he heard about it, just like Wang Zifeng, the Great Song Emperor just let out a soft "oh" and didn't take it to heart.

Who is the new emperor of the Liao Kingdom, does it matter?

it is not important.

Today's Liao Kingdom has signed the "Jiaozhou Treaty" with the Great Song Dynasty. Today's Liao Kingdom has no more than [-] black wolf troops, and it is far from being that fearsome and powerful country.

Zhao Fu closed his eyes, and he recalled many things.

When he came to the throne 36 years ago, the court was in turmoil, and the Liao people took the opportunity to attack.

Twenty-six years ago, he led his own troops to conquer the Liao Kingdom, and finally won a peace treaty that was compromised.

He reigned for 36 years. Although there were natural disasters or human disasters in the Song Dynasty, I dare not say that the Manchu Dynasty is clear and bright, but the people of the world have passed 36 years in peace and stability!

So what did he leave for future generations?

He left behind a territory of the Song Dynasty with a complete territory and three states surrendered to him. He left behind a Yinqi Village spread across 36 states. He left behind the cage that Tang Shen had hoped for. Guotai Minan's Kaiping has been in 36 years!

Today the emperor is staying in the Zhenfei palace, who is the biological mother of the second prince Zhao Shang.

Since the palace coup five years ago, Concubine Zhen has become more and more afraid of the emperor, and she carefully waits for the emperor to go to bed.

The candles were blown out, and the moonlight quietly shone into the hall.

Concubine Zhen was frightened for a long time and was about to fall asleep when she suddenly heard Zhao Fu say: "Did Zhao Shang's arm be injured in Youzhou?"

Concubine Zhen was so startled that she almost jumped up from the bed.She said softly, "Yes..."

Zhao Fu didn't speak any more.

Concubine Zhen waited for a long time in fear, but this time she was no longer sleepy.

"You have been with me for thirty years."

Concubine Zhen smiled: "The concubine entered the palace in the third year of Kaiping."

Zhao Fu said casually, "Am I a good emperor?"

Concubine Zhen's eyelids twitched, and her heart thumped.Being able to give birth to a prince in the harem and live in peace and stability for so many years, Concubine Zhen understands the emperor.She raised her eyes to look at the moonlight, and saw that the wrinkles on the emperor's face were reflected by the moonlight like mountain ravines.

She remembered the Zhao Fu she met when she first entered the palace 33 years ago.

Zhao Fu was not considered handsome.

The Empress Dowager is not a beauty. Among the several princes of the late emperor, the most handsome and extraordinary one is the former prince.Concubine Zhen was fortunate enough to meet the former prince from a distance during a palace banquet before she entered the palace.That is really a fairy who came from heaven and earth, and took away her soul at a glance. Just ask, in Shengjing City at that time, which girl would not like Zhao Sui.

But Zhao Sui was already dead, she entered the palace and became Zhao Fu's concubine.

Zhao Fu controlled the overall situation in the previous dynasty, but he never cared about the harem.When the queen was there, the harem was kept in order; when the queen was gone, the harem was not in chaos.Thinking about it now, maybe every woman in the harem was terrified of Zhao Fu, even if Zhao Fu rarely got angry in front of them, they would not dare to make a mistake.

Having been together for 33 years, the second prince, Zhao Shang, has passed his thirties.

Looking at Zhao Fu now, Concubine Zhen suddenly felt that the heavenly face of the former crown prince had long been blurred in her memory. All these years, what she had remembered in her heart, who sewed clothes for him at night, made her fawn on her in every possible way, and made her timid and fearful. , are all Zhao Fu.

Concubine Zhen was really moved, she said softly: "In the hearts of my concubines, Your Majesty is the best emperor."

Zhao Fu lowered his head and glanced at her.

Zhao Fu smiled and said, "You are getting old."

Concubine Zhen summoned up her courage from nowhere and said, "Why not Your Majesty."

"Hahahahaha."

Concubine Zhen clutched her heart in fear, hearing her heart beating violently in the middle of the night.

She secretly thought: Maybe the emperor is really happy tonight?

Drowsiness hit her heart, Concubine Zhen slowly fell asleep.

On the second day, because it was New Year's Eve, all the officials had already rested and did not have to go to court, so the eunuchs waited outside the bedroom.

Concubine Zhen woke up and saw that the emperor was still awake, so she walked out of the palace lightly.When the sun was high and the emperor was still awake, Concubine Zhen came in and called people in a low voice.Called a few times, but no one responded, Concubine Zhen suddenly changed her face, she called Ji Fu in from the door in a panic, Ji Fu's face also changed greatly in fright.

Concubine Zhen touched Zhao Fu's body with trembling hands.

Concubine Zhen sat down on the ground.

Ji Fu's face turned pale with fright, but the next moment, Concubine Zhen shouted sadly: "Go and call the imperial physician, call the imperial physician!"

The emperor didn't die, but he fell into a coma due to an old illness.

In the 37th year of Kaiping, the palace was in a state of panic, and the three princes learned from the past. They wanted to visit the palace to see their illnesses, but they were afraid of repeating the mistakes they made five years ago.After two days, the three princes entered the palace to serve the sick.

This time, Zhao Fu's illness was severe.

Tang Shen went to the palace to face the saint as early as the fourth day of the lunar new year, but it was a pity that the emperor didn't wake up and he didn't see anyone.

The last time the emperor was seriously ill, Zhou Taishi waited until February to return to Beijing, and brought back a genius doctor.This time, maybe there was something in his heart, Grand Master Zhou returned to Shengjing on the seventh day of the first lunar month, and this time he brought the miracle doctor again.

The miracle doctor stayed in the palace for a whole month, but Zhao Fu did not wake up.

In the court hall, all the officials were worried.

And in the palace, the three princes felt like they were sitting on pins and needles.They have never been so deeply aware that they are so close to that seat.But the palace coup five years ago really frightened them, and none of them dared to act rashly.I am afraid that there is no son in this world who is so afraid of his father, like a panicked mouse.

Kaiping 37 years, February [-]th.

Tang Shen is discussing with craftsmen in the Ministry of Industry how to improve the cage, increase its efficiency, and reduce energy loss.The official came to report: "Your Majesty is awake, Mr. Zuo Servant invites Mr. Right Minister to enter the palace."

Tang Shen was startled and immediately entered the palace.

When Tang Shen came outside the Chui Gong Hall, many officials had already gathered outside the hall.

Tang Shen saw Wang Qin and walked to his side.The two looked at each other, and Wang Qin pressed his index finger to his lips, and gave a soft "shh".Tang Shen lowered his eyes, walked behind Wang Qin, and said nothing more.

When the sun set on the western mountain and the moon hung high, the great eunuch Ji Fu walked out of the Chuigong Hall.

The eunuch's high-pitched voice was extremely piercing in the dark night: "Xuan Zuo Prime Minister Xu Wu and Right Prime Minister Wang Quan have an audience."

Xu Xiang and Wang Xiang set off immediately and entered the Chuigong Hall.

Half an hour later, the two left the hall with different expressions.

Xu Wu said: "It's all gone, Your Majesty's dragon body is ill, so there is no need to wait."

All officials said in unison: "Yes."

After leaving the palace, Tang Shen and Wang Qin immediately came to the right minister's mansion.

Seeing them, Wang Quan smiled wryly, and said, "I know what you are talking about, but I have to ask, what did I say and what did I hear after Xu Wu and I went in? Naturally, I won't keep it from you. Come with me."

The two followed Wang Quan to the study, only to see Wang Quan pressed the bookshelf, and then took out a delicate and small box.

Wang Qin's eyes moved, he raised his eyes and said: "It's inside..."

Wang Quan: "Yes, it is the imperial edict."

Tang Shen was startled.

Wang Quan continued: "The box is in my hand, but have you seen the lock on it? The key to the lock is with Xu Wei. So I don't know what is written in the box, and neither does the left minister." Wang Quan sighed: "Who would have thought that the emperor would have such preparations!"

The imperial edict for passing on the throne is kept by Xu Wei and Wang Quan at the same time.

The two are enemy parties, if one of them wants to cause chaos, it must not be able to hide it from the other.

In addition, when the new emperor ascended the throne, both of them had the merit of following the dragon.Even in the reign of the new emperor, it is not easy for one side to overwhelm the other.With one simple move, almost half of Wang's party's previous painstaking efforts to abolish and demote Yu Chaosheng was abolished!

Wang Qin couldn't help laughing.

Wang Quan: "You can still laugh?"

Wang Qin asked back: "Then what should I do, cry?"

Wang Quan glanced at him speechlessly, and sighed: "Oh, I don't know whether this matter is good or bad, and I don't know how long Your Majesty can last!"

Seeing these words, Tang Shen listened to his heart. On the second day, he came to the Qinzheng Hall calmly, and ran into the living man who was working in the Qinzheng Hall that day.

This man's surname is Qi, and he was the number one scholar in the 36th year of Kaiping.In November last year, he just became a housekeeper, and within a few days of his tenure, the emperor suffered a serious illness. Since then, he has been guarding the unconscious emperor, unable to write anything in his diary all day long.

"The next official is Qifeng, and I have met Mr. You Shilang."

Tang Shen gave a soft "hmm": "Are you going to work in the palace?"

Qi Feng: "Responding to your lord's words, yes."

Tang Shen didn't say any more, stepped aside and let Qi Feng go first.Qi Feng was stunned at first, then he was grateful, and hurried to the palace.

After Zhao Fu woke up, he only saw Xu Wu and Wang Quan, and he didn't see anyone for two days.

Some officials speculated that the emperor might be able to save the day and survive this time as he did two years ago.However, Tang Shen knew that Taishi Zhou had been guarding the capital and hadn't left. Maybe Zhao Fu really couldn't make it through this spring.

On February [-]th, Zhao Fu summoned Shangshu Zuopu to shoot Wang Qin, and Su Wenyun, the counselor of Qinzheng Palace, went to the palace to have an audience.

The two did not enter the palace at the same time, when Su Wenyun left the palace, he happened to bump into Wang Qin head-on.

Su Wenyun glanced at him with a smile that was not a smile, Mr. Wang looked calm and entered the palace calmly.When they returned to the mansion in the evening, when Wang and Tang finished their meal, Wang Qin took out something from his sleeve, and with a click, he put it on the table.

His movements were so natural, Tang Shen didn't think there was anything wrong, so he looked over casually.

After seeing the thing on the table clearly, Tang Shen's expression changed drastically, and he grabbed it.

"what is this?"

Wang Qin smiled leisurely: "The gold medal for avoiding death."

Tang Shen: "..."

Of course he knew it was the gold medal for avoiding death!

It turns out that the TV dramas are all true. There are really gold medals for avoiding death in the world, and they can be seen at a glance as gold medals for avoiding death!

Tang Shen thought for a while: "Is it given by the emperor to enter the palace today?"

Wang Qin nodded slightly.

The corner of Tang Shen's mouth twitched, and he threw the thing back on the table.He remembered one thing: "You said that His Majesty summoned you and Su Wenyun into the palace today, and he gave you the gold medal to avoid death, so what did you give Su Wenyun?"

Wang Qin: "Why must it be given to Su Wenyun?"

Tang Shen: "Huh?"

Wang Qin frowned slightly, showing concern for the world and worried: "My Wang Zifeng has a clean sleeve, and the sun and the moon can learn from him. He is dedicated to the country, and he will sacrifice his life. It is because of this that he won this gold medal for avoiding death. Perhaps Su Wenyun He didn't get anything, but what did the emperor want from him?"

Tang Shen: "..."

Shameless to the extreme!

Whether Su Wenyun got anything, not to mention Tang Shen, even Zhao Fu's personal eunuch Ji Fu didn't know.

On the second day after entering the palace, Su Wenyun left for Youzhou.

A few days later, Wang Xiao sent a letter from the northwest and sent it to Tang Shen.Tang Shen opened it and looked at it, and suddenly laughed.

After Yelushege, the second prince of the Liao Kingdom, came to the throne, he first eradicated dissidents and purged Chaogang.This time Yelushege was able to ascend the throne, all relying on the strong support of Nanmian officials.So after ascending the throne, Yelushege vigorously promoted Nanmian officials, which changed the situation in which tribal nobles held power in the court of Liao Kingdom.

Liao's internal and external troubles continued, and it was the time of trouble.

After working for more than a month, Brother Yelushe remembered one thing.He called his confidant who had followed him for many years, the former Zuo Cheng of Xijin Mansion, and now the Taibao Xiao Zhen, the Prince of Liao.The new emperor of the Liao Kingdom asked him in a low voice: "I remember, you know a tea merchant from the Song Dynasty."

A drop of sweat dripped down Xiao Zhen's fat face: "Yes, I do know a tea merchant from the Song Dynasty."

Brother Yelushe showed a cold smile on his handsome face, and he said softly, "The tea merchant has a son."

Xiao Zhen raised his head and asked in surprise, "Your Majesty still remembers the tea merchant's son?" Xiao Zhen showed a regretful expression, "The tea merchant's name is Qiao Jiu, and he is a shrewd and capable businessman. His son died of illness in his hometown last year. Jiu was so sad that he returned to his hometown long ago. Since then, I haven't seen Qiao Jiu again."

Brother Yelushe froze on the spot in astonishment.

Xiao Zhen's eyes were clear and full of regret.

Brother Yelushe stared at him for a long time without saying a word.

Xiao Zhen's scalp was numb and he didn't dare to speak.

After a long time, Brother Yelushe said: "Go down."

"Yes."

Brother Yelushe of course did not reply to Xiao Zhen's one-sided words. Although Xiao Zhen had no reason to deceive the emperor, brother Yelushe still sent people to investigate in private.The result of the investigation was indeed the same as what Xiao Zhen said. The Song country tea merchant left the Liao country last year and never came back.No one knows if it was because his son died of illness that he left, but he really disappeared.

Emperor Liao closed his eyes, recalling the glimpse he once had.

After opening his eyes again, Brother Yelushe shook his head indifferently, forgetting all the remaining charming thoughts.

This time Su Wenyun went to Youzhou in order to remove Qiao Jiu and relocate in Liao Kingdom.

Although Qiao Jiu left, Xiao Zhen, a pawn, had already been placed beside Brother Yelushe.Xiao Zhen has committed countless acts of treason. Once the incident happens, Brother Yelushe will definitely cut him to pieces. He has already boarded this "thief ship" and there is no turning back.

After Su Wenyun arranged the matter properly, he said to Wang Xiao: "This time may be the last time I come to the Northwest in my life, and I will see you in the future."

Wang Xiao bowed respectfully and saluted: "The next official accepts orders."

If it wasn't for Wang Xiao's letter saying, Tang Shen wouldn't even know that so many things happened in Liao Kingdom.

At the end of February, Su Wenyun returned to Beijing, and Li Jingde also returned to the capital with him.

On the second day Li Jingde returned to Beijing, he was summoned to the palace to face the saint.

It is said that Marshal Zhengxi left the palace that day with red eyes, no one knows what Zhao Fu said to him in the palace, but since then, he has guarded the northwest and never left in this life.

The emperor recuperated in the palace, and Tang Shen continued to improve the cages with the craftsmen in the Ministry of Industry.

In the 37th year of Kaiping, on the sixth day of March, the emperor's condition suddenly improved, and he was able to get out of bed and walk in the imperial garden.

In the afternoon of the next day, Zhao Fu summoned Tang Shen and had an audience in the Chui Gong Hall.

Wearing a brand new official robe, Tang Shen lowered his head and was led into the palace by the eunuch.

When Tang Shen entered the palace, Zhao Fu did not rest on the dragon couch, but sat on the dragon chair, flipping through a book.

After Tang Shen saluted, Zhao Fu said, "You all go down."

Suddenly only Zhao Fu and Tang Shen were left in the huge Chuigong Palace.

Tang Shen's eyes moved slightly, but he did not act rashly.These days, most of the officials who came to face the holy in the Chuigong Hall did so alone, without other people present.

The emperor is ordering the funeral.

Tang Shen still bowed slightly, Zhao Fu looked at him with a smile, his voice was low, but different from the past, this time the slowness was due to his unstable breath, which was a little vain.

"Jing Ze, raise your head."

Tang Shen raised his head.

"Do you know what book I'm reading?"

Tang Shen glanced at the cover of the book. After seeing the words clearly, Tang Shen's heart trembled, and he bowed and said, "I don't know."

Zhao Fu: "It's "Kang Shi Xun Ce" compiled by Zhong Taisheng."

The voice fell, and there was a dead silence in the palace.

After a long time, Zhao Fu put the book on the table and said calmly: "Jing Ze, you have been an official in the court for many years, I want to ask you..."

"In your heart, I am a good emperor?"

Tang Shen replied without hesitation: "Yes, in my heart, Your Majesty is a generation of Mingjun."

Zhao Fu: "What kind of a generation of Mingjun?"

Tang Shen: "Your Majesty conquered the Liao Dynasty in the west, seized the lost land, and returned our country of the Great Song Dynasty; opened the Yinyin Division, and set up Yinqi Village of the Great Song Dynasty...everything your Majesty has done is for generations to come!"

Zhao Fu laughed: "How does it compare to Zhao Zhen?"

Tang Shen was stunned.

After a long time, Tang Shen said, "I don't know who Zhao Zhen is."

Zhao Fu leaned forward, with his upper body pressed against the table, staring at Tang Shen with vicissitudes and bright eyes.

Tang Shen stood there calmly, without showing a trace of fear or embarrassment.

Zhao Fu: "I really don't know?"

"I don't know."

Zhao Fu's tone was brisk: "The prince of the late emperor is also my elder brother, named Zhao Zhen."

Tang Shen bowed his head and remained silent.

Zhao Fu laughed: "If Zhong Taisheng is a good minister of the auxiliary country, and Zhao Sui is the emperor, how will I compare with them?"

Tang Shen remained silent.

Zhao Fu suddenly scolded: "Tang Jingze, what do you think will happen!"

Tang Shen replied neither humble nor overbearing: "I was born in the 11th year of Kaiping, and I have never seen the scene that Your Majesty said. Since I can remember, I know that I was born in Kaiping, and there was only one emperor in the Song Dynasty. Emperor Kaiping. I am not a fairy, so how can I know what has never happened. But I know that what your majesty has done in 500 years has not happened."

Zhao Fu smiled lightly.

"Jing Ze, above the court, the person I trust the most...is you!"

Tang Shen looked at Zhao Fu steadfastly, and he bowed to the ground: "I am willing to do my best for His Majesty, until after I die!"

When Tang Shen left the Chui Gong Hall, the sun was shining outside, and it was a beautiful spring day.

He was so blinded by the glare of the sun that he couldn't see the color of the sky clearly, and his body shook slightly before he stood firm.

When Ji Fu saw him coming out, he remembered that Tang Shen had stayed in the palace for so long, and thought that the emperor must have rewarded him like he did to Wang Qin and others.He winked at Tang Shen, and continued: "My servant will find someone to lead Master Tang out of the palace."

Tang Shen nodded and said, "My father-in-law."

A young eunuch led Tang Shenqing away from the palace. Ji Fu looked at Tang Shenqing's thin back, and said to his godson Xie Bao, "I just realized today that although I have only been an official in the court for ten years, the officials really trust me." , I like this Tang Jingze very much."

Xie Bao whispered: "Godfather, why is this. I see that the officials also like Wang Qin, Su Wenyun and other adults very much."

Ji Fu shook his head: "It's not the same. I don't know what it is, but there is something completely different about Mr. Tang. He is naturally not as sharp as Wang Zifeng, nor is he as ruthless as Su Feiran , but it’s just different.”

Xie Bao didn't understand, so he asked, "What's different?"

Ji Fu opened his mouth, but couldn't speak: "Go and do your thing!"

When spring came into March and the garden was full of spring, the Great Song Dynasty Hall returned to its former tranquility.

No one talked about the emperor's dragon body, and no one dared to think about it.

In Shengjing City, there is peace and tranquility.The only ones who are anxious are probably the three princes who are eagerly looking forward to the throne.However, the emperor's dragon body is healthy, and at [-] o'clock in March, he went to the early court!

The three princes were dumbfounded.

Even Wang Qin was quite surprised, he said to Tang Shen: "Is cultivating immortals really useful? Junior brother, why don't we try?"

Atheist Tang Shen: "..."

However, within two days, the emperor told Wang Qin with the facts that cultivating immortals would not be useful, as there is no immortal in this world.

On March 37, [-]th year of Kaiping, in the middle of the night, the emperor suddenly became seriously ill, with shortness of breath and blue complexion.

The eunuch Ji Fu immediately summoned all the officials into the palace.

All the Beijing officials above rank four were asleep when they were suddenly called up, hurriedly changed into official robes, and entered the palace in the night.

In the side hall of the Chuigong Hall, there are weeping concubines and princes and grandchildren.

Outside the Chuigong Hall, there are hundreds of civil and military officials headed by the left minister Xu Wei and the right minister Wang Quan.

Su Wenyun stood in the middle of the civil servants, looking down at the ground expressionlessly, wondering what he was thinking.

Wang Qin stood in the front row of all the officials, quietly looking at the closed gate of the Chuigong Palace, with a calm expression.

Tang Shen stood behind the two of them with no expression on his face.

At the moment of ugliness, the imperial physicians in the Chuigong Palace left the palace with their medical boxes.Seeing this scene, Baiguan had already guessed.

At this time, the chief eunuch Ji Fu came out from the hall, and he said loudly: "Tang Shen, the right servant of the Xuan Gong Department, sees you!"

In the dark night, there was an uproar.

Even Wang Qin looked at Tang Shen in surprise, but then he seemed to understand something, and looked at Tang Shen seriously.

Tang Shen was no less shocked than other officials outside the hall, he was extremely dazed, but when he looked up and saw Wang Qin's eyes, for some reason, he suddenly calmed down.

Tang Shen straightened his official robes, strode out of the queue of officials, and stepped onto the steps of the Chuigong Hall.

With red eyes, Ji Fu said softly, "Master Tang, please come in."

Ji Fu pushed open the door, and Tang Shen walked in.

As soon as he entered the hall, Tang Shen was overwhelmed by the smell of medicine.Sandalwood incense wafted from the hall, and Tang Shen followed his memory to the outside of the emperor's bedroom. He didn't go in, but shouted outside the door: "My minister, Tang Shen, asks for an audience."

For a long time, there was no sound in the house.

Tang Shen said it again.

At this time, Zhao Fu's weak voice sounded: "Come in."

Tang Shen: "Yes." He opened the door and entered.